Fairless, Charles Clifford (Corporal, b.1897 – d.1917)

Collection relating to the First World War service of 4183 Corporal Charles Clifford ‘Happy’ Fairless, 45 Australian Infantry Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, Egypt, France, England and Australia, 1915-1918.

Wallet 1 of 1 – Consists of two folders of material relating to the service and death of Corporal Fairless, dated from 1915 to 1918.

Folder 1 of 2 contains 44 letters, telegrams and postcards written by Corporal Fairless to his family members, dated from December 1915 to April 1917. Family members he writes to include his parents Mr John Joseph Fairless and Mrs Mary Ann (née Davies) Fairless, and siblings Robert and Jean Fairless. These items were made during his service with the 45 Australian Infantry Battalion in Egypt, France and Belgium. In this correspondence he discusses his movements, banking and pay allocations, health, living conditions in the trenches, daily operations and duties, food rations, receipt of mail and recreational leave in England. He also sends updates of fellow servicemen and local weather, and gives his well wishes to friends and family.

Folder 2 of 2 contains 19 items of correspondence relating to the death of Corporal Fairless, dated from June 1917 to April 1918. The correspondence is written to Corporal Fairless’ family members and friends, and relates to his death on 7 June 1917 in Messines, Belgium. Family members and friends include his parents Mr John Joseph Fairless and Mrs Mary Ann (née Davies) Fairless, and Mr Ryan [exact identities unknown] and Mr William Sparke, [Solicitor, AMP Chambers, Spark & Millward Solicitors]. The correspondence include telegrams, letters, reports and documents. They relate to enquiries, news and updates on Corporal Fairless’ missing status, confirmation of wounds and death, witness accounts and messages of condolences. Within this correspondence is a card made by Mr and Mrs Fairless relating to the funeral of Corporal Fairless, and a poem by unknown relating to the death of servicemen killed in action.

Folder 3 of 3 contains 2 items relating to the service of Corporal Fairless, dated 1915 to 1916. Items include:

1x Order to report to the Recruiting Depot Newcastle, dated 16 August 1915.
1x French bank note, dated 1 September 1916.

Corporal Charles Clifford Fairless enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 31 July 1915 in Newcastle, New South Wales. From 6 March 1916 he served with the 45th Australian Infantry Battalion in Egypt. On 10 August 1916 he was posted to France, where he continued to serve with the Battalion in Europe. Corporal Charles Clifford Fairless was killed in action on 7 June 1918 in Messines, Belgium. He is commemorated at Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Flanders, Belgium.